Wake Forest University
Syracuse
Demon Deacons Upset No. 22 Syracuse in ACC Tournament
3/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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By Erika Carrubba, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWBB)
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Wake Forest continued its run in the 2015 ACC Tournament with an upset of No. 22-ranked Syracuse on Thursday at the Greensboro Coliseum. The No. 13-seed Demon Deacons topped No. 5-seed Syracuse 85-79.
The victory marks just the second time in program history that Wake Forest has won two games in an ACC tournament. In 2012 the Demon Deacons posted wins over Virginia Tech and Miami.
Senior Dearica Hamby turned in her 18th double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Amber Campbell had a career-night with 21 points and five steals and junior Kandice Ball chipped in a career-high 14 points. Senior Millesa Calicott went 4-of-5 from beyond the arc to finish with 14 points.
The game featured five ties and 13 lead changes. The Demon Deacons trailed 36-33 at the break after Syracuse went on a 10-6 run in the final four minutes of the opening half.
Campbell knocked down a three-pointer with 16:54 on the clock in the second half to give Wake Forest a 42-41 lead but it was short lived as the game was tied three more times over the next three minutes. Campbell once again scored to tie the game 48-48 and spark an 11-0 burst for the Demon Deacons. It was Campbell again with a steal and the fast break bucket that capped the run and gave Wake Forest a 57-48 lead with 10:23 remaining.
The Deacs extended the lead to 15, 77-62, with 4:22 remaining in the game before Syracuse heated up from beyond the arc. Alexis Peterson and Brianna Butler combined to knock down four-straight three-pointers to close the lead to 81-76 with 1:32 left to play. Peterson stepped up to the free-throw line and knocked down two shots to pull within three, 81-78, with just under a minute on the clock.
On the next offensive possession Wake Forest missed the initial shot but came away with the offensive rebound and Syracuse was forced to foul. Calicott made both free throws and extended Wake Forest's lead to 83-78. After Peterson made one free throw for the Orange, Atkinson was fouled and hit both from the charity stripe to secure the 85-79 win for Wake Forest.
NOTES:
• Wake Forest has won two games in the ACC Tournament for just the second time in program history. The Demon Deacons also won two games in 2012, with victories over Virginia Tech and Miami.
• With the win over No. 22-ranked Syracuse, the Demon Deacons have now beaten a ranked opponent for four-straight seasons. The Demon Deacons last win over a ranked opponent was Feb. 2, 2014 over No. 23/25 Florida State.
• Thursday's win over Syracuse marks Wake Forest's first-ever win over the Orange. The Demon Deacons were 0-2 against Syracuse entering the game.
• Dearica Hamby grabbed 10 rebounds in the game to bring her career total to 1,005. She is now one rebound away from tying Jen Hoover's program record of 1,006 set in 1991.Hamby and Hoover are the only two players in program history to reach the 1,000 rebound milestone.
• Dearica Hamby turned in in 18th double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds. She now has 43 career double-doubles which passes Tracy Connor for second in the Wake Forest record book.
• Freshman Amber Campbell scored a career-high 21 points. She has scored in double figures in 19 games this season.
UP NEXT:
• Wake Forest will face No. 4-seed Duke on Friday at 11 a.m.
• The Demon Deacons lost to Duke twice in the regular season.
• Wake Forest and Duke have faced off in the ACC Tournament nine times with the Demon Deacons coming away with two wins (1986, 1993).
• Wake Forest and Duke last met in the ACC Tournament in 2011 with the Blue Devils winning 79-50.
• Duke has won 42-straight games in the series with the last Demon Deacon win coming in the ACC Tournament on March 5, 1993.
